There is another aspect of this mystery of God’s grace at the time of difficulties and struggles in our life. It is the path to holiness. Listen to the author of Hebrews: “Endure your trials as the discipline of God, who deals with you as sons (and daughters). For what son (or daughter) is there whom (the) Father does not discipline? If you do not know the discipline of sons (and daughters), you are not (legitimate but illegitimate). If we respected our earthly fathers who corrected us, should we not all the more submit to the Father of spirits, and live? They disciplined us as seemed right to them, to prepare us for the short span of mortal life; but God does so for our true profit, that we may share his holiness.” (Heb 12: 7-10)

God seeks to take us--the lump of clay that we are--and to transform us through the ordinary and extraordinary moments and events in our life--those we are in control of and those we are not in control of--to transform us so that we can become the perfected person he sees locked within us. It will depend on our attitude and our relationship with God whether we will remain the lump of clay or become a beautiful, exquisite teacup.  In the process these moments and events can become stumbling blocks or stepping blocks, destructive stones or building stones. The grace of God is sufficient whether or not our response is cooperative or rebellious. But if we yield to the grace of God, what  glorious results will occur. (To be continued)